Inflatable Heat Enclosure for Bed Bug Removal Without Article Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pest treatment methods require discarding infested articles, rely on restricted pesticides, or damage objects with inefficient heat treatments, especially for large items like furniture and mattresses.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, inflatable enclosure with a heating system and programmable logic controller that gradually increases and decreases temperature to effectively kill pests without damaging treated articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high heat temperatures are used to kill pests, then pest elimination effectiveness is improved, but the article may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic temperature control by ramping the temperature up gradually at a controlled rate (e.g., 10-15°F per hour) rather than applying high heat immediately. The temperature is held at the target level (at least 115°F) for a specified duration to ensure pest death, then ramped down gradually. This dynamic approach allows the article to acclimate to temperature changes, preventing thermal shock damage while still achieving effective pest elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter over time according to a specific profile: gradual ramp-up phase, sustained hold phase at lethal temperature, and gradual ramp-down phase. This parameter transformation approach converts a potentially damaging instantaneous high-heat treatment into a controlled temporal process that achieves the same pest-killing effect without exceeding the article's thermal tolerance at any given moment.
2Productivity
If rapid heating is used to treat pests, then treatment time is reduced, but the article may be damaged due to thermal shock
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the heating rate to optimize both treatment time and article safety. By controlling the ramp-up rate within a specific range (10-15°F per hour), the system finds the optimal balance between speed and safety, preventing thermal shock while minimizing total treatment duration. This dynamic rate control is more effective than either rapid or very slow heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating process continues uninterrupted through all phases (ramp-up, hold, ramp-down) without abrupt interruptions or changes in approach. The continuous application of controlled heat ensures that the article undergoes a smooth thermal transition, preventing the sudden temperature changes that cause thermal shock, while maintaining productive progress toward pest elimination throughout the entire cycle.
3Reliability
If entire rooms or buildings are heated to treat pests, then pest elimination coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment space by enclosing only the specific infested article(s) in a localized enclosure rather than heating entire rooms or buildings. This segmentation concentrates the thermal energy within a small, defined volume, achieving effective pest elimination coverage for the target articles while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding the need to heat large, open spaces. The enclosure creates a controlled micro-environment for treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment approach applies heat locally to specific infested articles rather than uniformly throughout a large space. The enclosure confines the thermal energy to the immediate vicinity of the articles being treated, creating a localized zone of high temperature that is sufficient for pest elimination. This local quality approach ensures energy is spent only where needed, rather than wasting energy heating empty space.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves 100% elimination of bed bug eggs, nymphs, and adults without harming treated items, using controlled temperature ramps and holds to ensure thorough pest eradication.
Implementation Method 1
The heating system has a heater... The programmable logic controller increases the temperature inside of the enclosure by increasing the Tsetpoint one degree every six minutes
Implementation Method 2
The heating system also has at least one thermocouple electrically connected to the heater and located inside of the inflated enclosure. The thermocouple measures the actual air temperature inside of the enclosure (Tactual)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of pest elimination including all life stages of bed bugs. The present disclosure includes articles, systems, and methods of heat treatment to target and kill pests.